Trailer



NOV. 12, 1929. s HATAsHn-A 1,734,969

TRAILER Filed April 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Shee't 1 NOV. 12, 1929. S'HTASHlTA V 1,734,969

TRAILER Filed April 7, 1928 2 Sheets-street 2 gm, #WW

Patented Nov. 12, 1929 PATENT OFFICE sEzo m'msnrm, or Lnm, onro TBAILEB Application med April 7,

This invention relates to a trailer, and particularly to means for connecting its front end to and Supporting it from a tractor or similar vehicle.

One of the objects of the invention is to arrange the connections, for the purpose stated, in such a manner that there will be the least possible bending strain imposed thereon by the weight of the forward end of the trailer, at the same time permitting a free turning movement of the trailer about its king bolt.

Another object is to provide an improved coupling unit. so arranged that the weight imposed by the trailer upon the rear end of the tractor and the rearward pull of the trailer, When connected to a tractor of the Fordson type, will not have any tendency to cause the tractor to buck or tip backwardly.

The coupling frame and the parts associated therewith are so constructed and arranged as to cushion the effects of the forces acting between the tractor and the trailer, thus further relieving the strains which have a tendency to bend or breakthe connections.

Provision is also made for locking the trailer against lateral turning movement when the trailer and tractor are backed.

The specific construction of the invention in its present embodiment, together with its mode of Operation and the advantages resulting therefrom, will be more particularly explained in connection with the accompanying drawings,` which illustrate the same 1n detail.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trailer in the position which it assumes when attached to a tractor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of thefinvention on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away or shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a Vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the connections between the coupling yoke and the axle housing of the tractor, the latter being 50 shown in section.

1928. Serial No. 288,257.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicatesthe rear portion of a tractor, to which the trailer 11 1s connected. The trailer has a chassis frame 12 which is semi-circular at its front end, as shown at 13. The front end of the chassis frame also has cross bars 14, between Which is secured a bearing member 15 adapted to receive a king bolt 16. When the front end of the trailer is detached from the tractor7 it is adapted to be supported by one or more jacks 17.

The coupling unit, by means of which the trailer is connected to the tractor withits front end supported thereby, includes a frame ror yoke 18, at the rear end of which is secured a bearing member 19, complementary to the bearing member 15 and adapted to receive the king bolt 16. The arms of the yoke- 18 extend forwardly and to each arm there is secured a sleeve 20, within which is mounted a shaft 21. vThis shaft is formed at its front' end with a shackle 22 to which is secured a compound forwardly extending leaf spring 23. A connecting member 24 is mounted on the shackle 22 and has a draft bar 25 pivotally connected thereto.

The rear end of each shaft 21 has a re-4 duced extension 26, which extends through. an annular shoulder 27 formed' on the inside of "the sleeve 20. Shock absorbing Springs 28 and 29 are carried by the extension 26 on opposite sides of the flange or shoulder 27. The spring 28 acts between the shoulder 27 and the main part of the shaft 21 to absorb any shock occasioned by hacking the tractor, while the spring 29 acts between the shoulder 27 and a head 30 carried at the rear end of the extension 26 to take up the shock when the tractor moves forwardly.

In order to adapt the tractor for the purposes of the invent-ion, the rear axle housing 31 has near each end thereof a forwardly and downwardly extending curvedl arm 32, the end of which is adapted to be connected 95 to the corresponding draft bar 25 by means of a pin. 33. .The sides of the arm 32 are formed with fianges between which the forward end of the draft bar 25 is received, and the latter is formed with a seat 34 above the 10 pin 33, for Supporting the front end of the spring 23. I

The arms of the yoke 18 are connected b-y a bar 35, a portion of which is arcuate and concentric with the king bolt 16. Anti-friotion rollers 30 are mounted on this arcuate portion and are adapted to ride -against the underside of the semi-circular end portion 13 of the chassis frame. This arcuate portion of the cross bar, 35 israised somewhat above the plane of the yoke 18 so that the chassis frame will be entirely clear of the coupling frame as the latter swings about the king bolt 16 as a center.

The cross bar 35 and the front end 13 of the chassis frame are provided centrally with rearwardly extending ears 37 andV 38, respectivelyf. These ears are provided With holes which are in registry when the tractor and trailer are in alinement and are adapted to receive a locking pin 39. This is for use particularly when the tractor is backed, in orderA to prevent the trailer .from turning laterally.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the weight of the forward /end of the trailer bears against the rollers 36 and there is no tendency forthe king bolt 16 to be bent thereby. This Weight which is taken up by the coupling yoke 18 is supported from the tractor through the medium of the Springs 23, thus providing a resiliendy which is quite important.7 The springs 28 and 29 provide a resiliency` in a longitudinal direction between the tractor and trailer.

The end portions of the arms 32 which support the weight of the front end of the trailer and which also transmit the draft power thereto, are disposed below and in front of the tractor axle so`that any power which is transmitted therethrough has a tendency to hold the front wheels of the tractor on the ground. This is an essential feature in connection with small tractors of the type described, since such -tractors often buck or tip rear- `wardly when excessive resistance is encoun- -tered.

While Ihave shown and described in considerable detail the'specific form of the invention which seems at present to be preferred, it is quite obvious that many modiications inay he made therein, without any material departure from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What T claim is:

1. The combination of a trailer having a chassis frame with a king bolt depending therefrom, a coupling' member attached to the king bolt and provided with means bearing against the underside of said chassis frame in front ofthc king bolt, towing means having a seat in s'nfporting relation to the front end of'said coupling member and draft means Connecting said towing means to the coupling member independently of said Seat.-

meaeee '2. The combination of a trailer having a chassis frame with a king bolt depending therefrom, a coupling member attached to the king bolt and provided with means bearing against the underside of said chassis frame in front of the king bolt, a'towing unit having a rear axle housing With downwardly'and forwardly projecting arms on which the coupling member has a floating support and draft means in addition to the floating support connecting the ends of said arms to the coupling member.

3. The combination of a trailer having a chassiscframe, a coupling member swiveled to said frame and having means bearing against theunderside of the frame in front of the swivel connection, means in Supporting relation to the front end of the coupling member, and draft elements Connecting said last mentioned means to the coupling member independently of its Supporting relation thereto.

4. The combinationlv of a trailer having a chassis frame, a coupling memberswiveled to said frame and having means bearing against .the underside of the frame in front of the swivel connection, a towing unit having a rear axle housing with downwardly and forwardly projecting arms, and draft elements Connecting the ends of said arms to the couplingmember, and means for Supporting the forward end of said coupling member from the rear axle housing independently of the draft connections.

5. The combination of a trailer having a chassis frame, a coupling member swiveled to said frame and having means bearing against the underside of the frame in front of the swivel connection, a towing unit, draft elements Connecting the towing unit to the coupling member and forwardly extending leaf Springs secred to the coupling member and having their forward ends supported by the towing unit independently of the draft connections. v

6. The combination of a trailer having a forwardly extending frame, a coupling frame connected therewith, shafts connected to the coupling frame and towing unit, draft elements Connecting the towing unit to said shafts, and leaf Springs shackled to said shafts and having free ends projecting forwardly and supported from said towing unit independently of the draft connections.

7. The combination of a trailer, a coupling member connected With and Supporting the forward end thereof, a towing unit having a rear a-Xle housing with arms extending forwardly and downwardly, draft elements Connecting the ends of said arms with the coupling member and formed with seats above the ends of said arms, Cand means for resiliently Supporting the forward end of the coupling member. on said seats.

8. The combination ofa trailer, a coupling projecting forwardly, a'

ina-1,969

frame connected w'ithand Supporting the forward end thereof, a towing unit having a rear axle housing with arms extending forwardly and downwardly, extensions mounted on the coupling frame and projecting forwardly, draft elements connecting said exten- 'Sion with the ends of said arms, said draft elements being formed with seats above the ends of said armsrand Springs shackled to said extensions. and resting on said seats to resiliently support the coupling frame and th front end of the trailer.

9. The combination of a trailer, a coupling member connected with and Supporting the forward end thereof, a towing unit having a rear axle housing with arms extending forwardly and downwardly, draft elements connected to said towing unit, means connect-v ing said draft elements to the coupling member, said last mentioned means being yieldable horizontally to absorb shocks in starting, seats located above the ends of said arms, and Springs connected withl said .coupling member and resting on said seats to sup ort I the coupling member and the front end o the trailer. 4

10. The combination of a trailer having a forwardly extending frame, a coupling'member in Supporting relation to the forward end of said frame and having a swivel connection therewith, permitting a relative swinging movement in a horizontal plane, said coupling member having forwardly extendingj arms, a towing unit, and draft links Connecting the towin unit with the respective arms of the coup ing member, said arms having forward .extensions resting on the v'draft links above the connections of the latter with` the towing unit andsupported thereby.

11. The combination of a trailer having a forwardly extending frame, a coupling member in Supporting relation to the forward end of said frame and having a swivel connection therewith permitting a relative .swin'gingmovement in a horizontal plane,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

SEZO HATASHITA. 

